Jennifer here. Please give a warm welcome to Krysti Meyer, a cozy mystery podcaster and an award-winning author! Here’s a fun conversation about her new Get Cozy podcast:
How did you get into podcasting?
I’ve been a fan of cozy mysteries ever since the pandemic started. They’ve been such a delightful escape from the serious issues we’ve been facing globally in the past few years. Before the pandemic, I hosted author events at my local independent bookshop, The Kings English, and had the opportunity to interview many incredible authors like Erin Morgenstern, Marie Lu, Melissa de la Cruz, and many more. Once in-person events stopped due to COVID-19, I really missed having that opportunity to chat one-on-one with authors. I decided the best way to fill that gap was to start my own podcast. And since cozy mysteries are my new favorite genre, the Get Cozy Podcast was born!
What is your process?
Anytime I read a cozy mystery, I jot down questions I’d like to ask the author. The questions can be about the writing process, the characters and world, or even about how the author’s personal life inspired their work. After I’ve finished the book, I’ll reach out to the author to schedule a time to chat. I do prepare questions in advance, but I like to maintain a conversational flow in all of my interviews. If we go off topic and chat about tacos for five minutes, that’s totally fine with me! I like to limit the amount of editing I do after the conversation, because I want my listeners to experience the conversation in an organic way.
What are some of the challenges and/or successes you’ve experienced along the way?
I, like so many people, have experienced some challenges with my health and with a pet who suddenly became paralyzed earlier this year. Because of that Get Cozy Podcast was on an extended hiatus. I’m so thrilled to announce that the podcast will be back very soon! I expect to release a new episode in the coming weeks!
What are some of the best or most surprising experiences you’ve had related to your podcast work?
I’ve been absolutely floored by the positive response to the podcast so far! For me, creating this podcast was a fun way to get to chat with authors I admire. To have listeners reach out to me and tell me how much they enjoy listening to each episode is so heart-warming. Creators put so much into their work and usually receive little to no monetary compensation. It’s the readers, the listeners, the fans who make the work worthwhile. Their comments are a never-ending source of joy.
What advice would you give to new or aspiring podcasters?
Be brave! Putting any kind of content out into the world for public consumption is terrifying! If you want to host a podcast where you’re conducting interviews, it can be very intimidating to reach out to the people you want to host on your show. You really have to put yourself out there and be okay with potential rejection. It’s so important when you’re starting out to set your expectations low and do the work because you love it. Then as you grow, let your expectations grow as well! Before you know it, you might just make your dream come true.
What advice would you give to authors who would like to connect with podcasters?
I would give the same advice to authors that I give to podcasters, be brave! We love having authors reach out to us.
Why should people listen to the Get Cozy Podcast?
Oh, people should definitely listen to the podcast because of the amazing authors who have been kind enough to participate. They have all blown me away with their generosity and their openness. We’ve had authors like Jennifer J. Chow, Kate Lansing, Ellie Alexander, Abby Collette, and more! It’s so neat getting to learn more about their books, and they have the absolute best book recommendations. The cozy book community is truly the kindest community I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with. These authors embody the spirit of the cozy community, and they are just a joy to listen to.
Krysti Meyer is the host of Get Cozy Podcast and a 2020 Watty Award winning author. Her romantic comedies have garnered nearly one million reads on Wattpad under her pen name Summer Darcy. She’s currently working on what she hopes will be her debut cozy mystery novel, and she dreams of one day being a full-time pumpkin farmer.
Get Cozy Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbCRxFriXA/?igshid=NmZiMzY2Mjc=
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-cozy-podcast/id1592916243
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7uHz8ALcTEh2TeME8vdQU1?si=RLnDTk3sTDa3-hcnvp1Kqg
Chicks on the Case 
Welcome, Krysti! So cool that you were able to turn use the negatives of the pandemic to be creative!
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I agree, Liz.
Also,personally happy that you started reading cozy mysteries, Krysti!
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Thank you so much! Cozies have definitely been such a bright spot in the past couple of years.
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I’ve had readers and booksellers tell me the same thing!
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Thanks for being on Chicks today, Krysti! I really admire podcasters and the support they give to authors. Learning all those technical ropes must be tough.
Also, congrats on all your Wattpad success! Feel free to share some of that experience (1 million reads!)…
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Thanks so much for having me, Jennifer! I adore this blog, so getting to be on it is such an honor!
Wattpad has been such a neat experience. It has a tremendous readership , so getting to reach that many readers in the past couple of years has been incredible. One of my romcoms We Are Never Getting Back Together is being added to the Wattpad paid stories program next month, and I’m just over the moon about that!
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Oh, so fun! Congrats on being part of the paid stories program!
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Thanks so very much for visiting the Chicks today, Krysti, and thanks even more for all you do for the cozy mystery community! What a gift that is! (We LOVE podcasters!) Here’s to your continued success!
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Thank you so much, Leslie! I adore this community, and I’m so thrilled to be here today!
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Hear, hear!
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Hi Krysti! So happy to meet you today! I find it hilarious that it makes you nervous to invite authors to your podcast. Every author I’ve ever known would be THRILLED to be invited to chat about themselves and their books! But I definitely know what you mean. It’s the same terror I experience when I have to ask someone to blurb one of my books, even though I’m honored every time I’m asked for a blurb. I guess it’s human nature!
Continued good luck with the podcast!
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Hi Becky! Yes, exactly! That fear of rejection is so hard to shake even when you know the fear isn’t always logical.
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I have a mantra I like: “I’ve done this before, I’ve done this before, I’ve done this before.” Sometimes it even works!
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I have huge rejection fear when asking for blurbs. And also when pitching my book (gotta get over that one)!
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So glad you visited today. I’m going to have to go check out your podcast.
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Thanks so much, Mark!
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Krysti, so happy to have you visit us at Chicks! Your podcast sounds fabulous. I can’t wait to check it out. But most importantly – how is your doggy????
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Thanks so much, Ellen!!! I really want to reschedule our interview soon! She’s doing much better. Thank you for asking. It’s been a long year of rehab, but she’s totally worth it!
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Poor baby. And yes! LMK when.
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So glad to hear this about your doggy! I was afraid to ask…
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Krysti, belated congrats on your new podcast, and thanks for visiting us Chicks today! I am a new podcast listener (so far juts My Favorite Murder) and yours sounds like a lot of fun (you have the perfect voice, too–just followed you and listened to the trailer). Jen, you are first up for me to tune into on Get Cozy! So great to meet you, Krysti, and please keep us updated on your debut cozy ms. (Will it involve a pumpkin farmer?)
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Aww, thanks, Lisa! While Krysti may have the perfect voice, I always find it difficult to listen to my recordings and hear myself played back.
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I have a hard time listening to my own voice too! I’m starting to get used to it now. 😂
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Thank you so much for listening! I love Jen’s episode! She was the perfect first guest!
My WIP is absolutely about a pumpkin farmer. 😉
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Your podcast sounds great, Krysti! Thank you for helping to spread the word about cozies, and I’m glad your dog is doing better. Does she ever chime in during your interviews? I know my cats would!
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Background pets–they add fun to Zoom meetings, so I expect the same for podcasts. 🙂
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I love that question! She hasn’t chimed in yet. I work at home, so she’s learned to be very quiet when I’m on conference calls. 😂
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What a fun interview, Krystie! It so happy things are on the rebound for you. Thank you so much for your support of cozy authors. I agree, it is the most wonderful community!
Wishing you all the best!
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Thank you so much! I really appreciate that!
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Reading fun cozies, including those by my sisters Chicks, certainly has been a respite over the past couple of years. Glad you found your way to this fab community, Kristi. And thanks so much for visiting with us today!
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Thanks, Vickie!
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Hi, Krysti! Congrats on the podcast! I just subscribed. Sounds right up my alley and down my street. 🙂
I love what you said about being brave. Such great advice, especially when putting ourselves out there, in whatever way we do that.
Looking forward to your debut mystery!
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Thank you so much, Kathleen! I really appreciate your support. The cozy community is just the best community!
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